Display case



Feb. 9,' 1943..` f M, K, TEA@ 2,310,718

DISPLAY CASE l Patented Feb. 9, 1943 DISPLAY CASE Max K. Teach, Columbus, Ohio, assignerv to The Colllrlflbllisv ShOW CaSe ClD-Iy, Clll'hlbls,

Ohio

Application January 15, 1940, Serial No. 313,999

2 Claims. (Cl. 24o- 6) This invention relates to improvements in display cases, and an object of the invention resides in the provision of a display case having a substantially cylindrical form and within which a rotary article holder is axially mounted.

Another object rests in the provision of a substantially circular show case having transparent side and top walls so disposed as to admit of a clear and unobstructed view of articles of merchandise positioned on the rotatable holder or carrier.

A further object resides in novel means of an externally shielded character for effecting complete and adequate illumination of the interior of the Case, and to accomplish this end with the use of concealed, vertically arranged lighting tubes.

A still further object is to render the interior of the case accessible by the provision of a segmental transparent door section, the latter being mounted for sliding movement in arcuate guides.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through a show case constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the plane indicated by the line II-II of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional View taken through one of the light columns on the plane indicated by the line III-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational View of one of the light columns.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the improved display case, comprising the present invention, and in the specic form thereof illustrated, consists of a stationary circular base I. The base is composed of a licor-engaging ring 2, which eifects the support of a horizontally disposed member 3, having an enlarged central opening 4. Secured to the under side of the member 3 is a platform 5, on which is mounted, in a central position, an electric motor and speed reducing unit 6. The driven shaft l of this unit is connected with and rotates a hollow vertically arranged post, which is mounted for rotation about the vertical axis of a show case.

The motor and speed reducing unit 6 is arranged in a chamber 9 formed in the base I, this chamber being defined by the horizontal member 3, an annular vertically disposed wall I Varising from the member 3 and carried thereby and a circular horizontally disposed base member which is secured to the upper edges of the wall I0 and a ring |2 carried thereby. The base member is for-med centrally with an opening |3 in which the lower reduced portion of the post.8 is supported for rotation.

The post 8 is provided with a plurality of apen tured vertically extending strips I4 with which are detachably connected the inner ends of the metallic frames I5 employed` to support in vertically spaced relation a plurality of glass shelves I6. By adjusting the frames I5 on the strips I4, the vertical `spacing of thje shelves I6 is procured. Preferably, the shelves are pf diierent diameters. .the ,Shelf u0i ereatestdiameter being disposed towardthe bottom of the post and the shelf of smallest diameter toward the top. By this arrangement, articles of merchandise resting on the shelves maybe clearly viewed by one looking downwardly into the case from its side.

The upper end of the Ipost projects for rotation through an opening provided in the glass top I8 of the case. If desired, the protruding upper end of the post may be equipped with an internally illuminated glass dome I9, which may or may not bear advertising indicia on its outer walls.

The outer peripheral edge of the top I8 is seated on a gasket 20 carried by a circular metallic ring 2| formed with an annular recess 22, constituting a seat for the gasket and the top I8, so that the upper surface of the ring 2| will be disposed in the same horizontal plane as the corresponding surface of the top IB. Also, the ring 2| has its upper side formed with an annular groove 23, shaped to receive a gasket 24 and the circular upper edges of a plurality of segmental glass side walls 25. The walls 25 are disposed in circular or cylindrical order, and have their lower edges seated in an annular rabbet 26, formed in the upper peripheral portion of the base member One of the glass side walls indicated at 25a constitutes a door, in order to provide convenient access to the interior of the case. The wall or section 25a is slidably mounted in an arcuate groove 21, formed in the base member and a corresponding groove 28 formed in the ring 2|. This transparent door section may be formed with a shallow, nger engaging recess 29 to facilitate the movement of the section from its normal position of closure, as shown in Fig. 2, to an open position.

The interior of the case is illuminated by the provision of a plurality of vertically arranged electrically energized fluorescent tubes 30. These tubes are supported from the base I and protected by means of external vertically extending metallic columns 3|. The lower ends of these columns rest on and are secured to the base member Il, while their upper ends are secured as at 32 to the metallic ring 2l. In transverse cross section, the columns 3l are substantially U-shaped, as shown in Fig. 2, so that light emanating from the tubes 30 is directed and reected through the glass side walls 25 into the interior of the show case to adequately and thoroughly illuminate the merchandise display compartment 33. 'Ihus the tubes 30 are normally concealed from external View and the light emitted thereby concentrated within the connes of the case.

In View of the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a display case of distinctive construction and appearance and one capable of attracting the attention of store patrons. The construction of the case admits of the ready View of the merchandise which it contains from all sides including the top, and by the provision of the rotatable merchandise carrier, an observer standing in one position, may readily view all articles of merchandise within the case. In this regard, the invention is a distinct improvement over the conventional type of show case, in which articles placed toward the rear f such a case are often diicult to see. v

The lighting of the case is another important feature, in that it brilliantly illuminates the interior of the case without producing oiensive glare to those standing adjacent the case. The motor and speed reducing unit 6 is carried by the baseboard 5, and in the event this unit requires servicing, it is merely necessary to remove screws uniting the board 5 with the member 3, thus permitting the motor and speed reducing gearing to be removed as a unit without disturbing the balance of the structure.

What is claimed is:

1. A merchandise display case comprising a base, a circular top, a vertically disposed cylindrical transparent wall structure arranged between said base and top, a plurality of circumferentially spaced, vertically extending, light housing columns disposed exteriorly of and immediately adjacent to said Wall structure, said columns being united at their ends with said base and top and free from direct connection with said .Wall structure, each of said columns being internally hollow with one side thereof open toward the interior of said case, and light producing means disposed within said columns.

2. In a merchandise display case of the type having a base, a cylindrical transparent wall extending vertically from said base, and a circular top supported solely by said wall; a plurality of channel-shaped reflector members disposed exteriorly of said wall and extending vertically between the base and top at circumferentially spaced points, the open sides of said reflector members being turned toward said Wall, and a tubular light emitting element extending the full length of each of said reflector members for uniformly illuminating the interior of said case throughout the full height thereof.

MAX K. TEACH. 

